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The list is central, for lack of a more accurate source, to the ] of the ]. However the fact that a number of the dynasties in the list probably reigned simultaneously in different cities makes it difficult to produce a strict chronology. Some have also suggested re-defining the units given for the antediluvian kings into more realistic numbers, such as reading the figures given in ''sar''s (units of 3600) as being either decades or simply years. The list is central, for lack of a more accurate source, to the ] of the ]. However the fact that a number of the dynasties in the list probably reigned simultaneously in different cities makes it difficult to produce a strict chronology. Some have also suggested re-defining the units given for the antediluvian kings into more realistic numbers, such as reading the figures given in ''sar''s (units of 3600) as being either decades or simply years.


Some of the earliest known inscriptions containing the list date from the early 3rd millennium BC; for example, the Weld-Blundell Prism is dated to 2170 BC. The later ] and ] king lists that were based on it still preserved the earliest portions of the list well into the 3rd century BC, when ] popularised the list in the Hellenic world. Over the large period of time involved, the names inevitably became corrupted, and Berossus' Greek version of the list, ironically one of the earliest to be known to modern academics, exhibits particularly odd transcriptions of the names. Some of the earliest known inscriptions containing the list date from the early 3rd millennium BC; for example, the Weld-Blundell Prism is dated to 2170 BC. The later ] and ] king lists that were based on it still preserved the earliest portions of the list well into the 3rd century BC, when ] popularised the list in the Hellenic world. Over the large period of time involved, the names inevitably became corrupted, and Berossus' Greek version of the list, ironically one of the earliest to be known to modern academics, exhibits particularly odd transcriptions of the names and mistranslation of the numbers.


==The list== ==The list==

Revision as of 13:53, 31 January 2008

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The Sumerian king list is an ancient text in the Sumerian language listing kings of Sumer from Sumerian and foreign dynasties. The later Babylonian king list and Assyrian king list were similar.

Description

The list records the location of the "official" kingship, along with the rulers with the lengths of their rule. The kingship was believed to be handed down by the gods, and could be passed from one city to another by military conquest. The list mentions only one female ruler: Kug-Baba, the tavern-keeper, who alone accounts for the third dynasty of Kish.

The list blends earlier ante-diluvian, possibly mythological kings who have exceptionally long reigns with later more plausibly historical dynasties. It cannot be ruled out that most of the earlier names in the list correspond to historical rulers who later became legendary figures.

The earliest name on the list whose existence has been authenticated through recent archaeological discoveries is that of En-me-barage-si of Kish (ca. 2600 BC). The fact that his name is also mentioned in the Gilgamesh epics has led some to suggest that Gilgamesh himself was a historical king.

Conspicuously absent from this list are the priest-rulers of Lagash, who are known directly from inscriptions starting ca. 2500 BC.

The list is central, for lack of a more accurate source, to the chronology of the 3rd millennium BC. However the fact that a number of the dynasties in the list probably reigned simultaneously in different cities makes it difficult to produce a strict chronology. Some have also suggested re-defining the units given for the antediluvian kings into more realistic numbers, such as reading the figures given in sars (units of 3600) as being either decades or simply years.

Some of the earliest known inscriptions containing the list date from the early 3rd millennium BC; for example, the Weld-Blundell Prism is dated to 2170 BC. The later Babylonian and Assyrian king lists that were based on it still preserved the earliest portions of the list well into the 3rd century BC, when Berossus popularised the list in the Hellenic world. Over the large period of time involved, the names inevitably became corrupted, and Berossus' Greek version of the list, ironically one of the earliest to be known to modern academics, exhibits particularly odd transcriptions of the names and mistranslation of the numbers.

The list

Pre-dynastic

Ante-diluvian kings, legendary, or earlier than ca. 29th century BC. Their rules are measured in sars - periods of 3600 years - the next unit up after 60 in Sumerian counting (3600 = 60x60), and in ners - units of 600.

"After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug (Eridu). In Eridug, Alulim became king; he ruled for 28800 years."

"Then Eridug fell and the kingship was taken to Bad-tibira."

"Then Bad-tibira fell and the kingship was taken to Larag (Larsa)."

"Then Larag fell and the kingship was taken to Zimbir (Sippar)."

"Then Zimbir fell and the kingship was taken to Shuruppag (Shuruppak)."

"Then the flood swept over."

* These two names are present on slightly over half of the versions of the Sumerian king lists, but not on others.

Early Dynastic I and II

Post-diluvian kings: the flood is usually associated with riverine deposits that appear in Shuruppak and have been radio-carbon dated about 2900 BC. Corresponding riverine deposits were also found in the city of Kish and were dated to 2900 BC. No inscriptions have yet been found verifying kings from the Early Dynastic I period. Kish flourished in the Early Dynastic period soon after the river flood.

It's likely that these lists overlap chronologically, and many rulers known from contemporary inscriptions are not found in the King Lists.

"After the flood had swept over, and the kingship had descended from heaven, the kingship was in Kish."

First Dynasty of Kish

(ca. 2600 BC) This is the earliest ruler in the list who is confirmed independently from epigraphical evidence.
  • Aga, "the son of En-me-barage-si": 625 years

"Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to E-ana."

First Dynasty of Uruk

"Mesh-ki-ang-gasher entered the sea and disappeared."

"Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim (Ur)."

Early Dynastic IIIa

(ca. 26th century BC)

First dynasty of Ur

"Then Urim was defeated and the kingship was taken to Awan."

Dynasty of Awan

  • Three kings of Awan, ruling for a total of 356 years.

"Then Awan was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish."

Second Dynasty Kish

"Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Hamazi."

Early Dynastic IIIb

(ca. 2500 - 2335 BC)

Dynasty of Hamazi

"Then Hamazi was defeated and the kingship was taken to Unug (Uruk)."

Second Dynasty of Uruk

"Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim (Ur)."

Second Dynasty of Ur

"Then Urim was defeated and the kingship was taken to Adab."

Dynasty of Adab

"Then Adab was defeated and the kingship was taken to Mari."

Dynasty of Mari

  • Anbu: 30 years
  • Anba, "the son of Anbu": 17 years
  • Bazi, "the leatherworker": 30 years
  • Zizi, "the fuller": 20 years
  • Limer, "the 'gudug' priest": 30 years
  • Sharrum-iter: 9 years

"Then Mari was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish."

Third Dynasty of Kish

  • Kug-Bau (Kubaba), "the woman tavern-keeper, who made firm the foundations of Kish": 100 years. The only woman in the King Lists.

"Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Akshak."

Dynasty of Akshak

"Then Akshak was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish."

Fourth Dynasty of Kish

"Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Unug (Uruk)."

Third Dynasty of Uruk

(ca. 2359 - 2335 BC short chronology). Defeated Lagash as well as Kish and other Sumerian cities, creating a unified kingdom.

"Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Agade (Akkad)"

Akkadian Empire

Akkadian ruler
Victory stele of Naram-Suen (Naram-Sin)

Dynasty of Akkad

  • Sargon, "whose father was a gardener, the cupbearer of Ur-Zababa, became king, the king of Agade, who built Agade": 40 years
(ca. 2334 - 2279 BC short chronology)
  • Rimush, "the son of Sargon": 9 years
  • Man-ishtishu, "the older brother of Rimush, the son of Sargon": 15 years
  • Naram-Suen (Naram-Sin), "the son of Man-ishtishu": 56 years
(ca. 2329 – 2282 BC short chronology)
(ca. 2282 - 2257 BC short chronology)

"Then who was king? Who was the king?"

(ca. 2254 - 2233 BC short chronology)
(ca. 2233 - 2218 BC short chronology)

"Then Agade was defeated and the kingship was taken to Unug (Uruk)."

Fourth Dynasty of Uruk

(Possibly rulers of lower Mesopotamia contemporary with the dynasty of Akkad)

"Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to the army of Gutium."

Gutian period

Gutian Rule

(ca. 2280 - 2189 BC short chronology)

"In the army of Gutium, at first no king was famous; they were their own kings and ruled thus for 3 years."

"Then the army of Gutium was defeated and the kingship taken to Unug (Uruk)."

Fifth Dynasty of Uruk

  • Utu-hegal: conflicting dates (427 years / 26 years / 7 years).
(ca. 2119 - 2113 BC short chronology) Drives out the Gutians.

"Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim (Ur)."

Third Dynasty of Ur

Great Ziggurat of Ur

"Sumerian Renaissance"

(ca. 2065 - 2047 BC short chronology)
  • Shulgi, "the son of Ur-Namma": 46 years
(ca. 2047 - 1999 BC short chronology)
(ca. 2046 - 2037 BC short chronology)
  • Shu-Suen, "the son of Amar-Suena": 9 years
(ca. 2037 - 2027 BC short chronology)
(ca. 2026 - 2004 BC short chronology)

"Then Urim was defeated. The very foundation of Sumer was torn out. The kingship was taken to Isin."

Dynasty of Isin

Independent Amorite states in lower Mesopotamia.

(ca. 2083 - 1858 BC short chronology)

There are 11 cities in which the kingship was exercised. A total of 134 kings, who altogether ruled for 28876 + X years.

* These epitaphs or names are not included on all versions of the king list.

See also

External links

References

  1. Harriet Crawford, Sumer and the Sumerians, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1991), page 19.
  2. Cambridge Ancient History, third edition, Vol I, part 2, page 244.
  3. Excavations at Kish, Watelin and Landon, Oxford University 1934, vol 4, pages 43, 53, Plate I.
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